Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) After opening discussions with Worcester County officials about a possible change in the sign code, the OPA Communications Committee concluded on Dec. 19 that its next step is to see what the cost would be to replace the current community marquees with digital messaging boards. The committee… Read more »
New committee members would receive orientation By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) After gaining traction with the OPA Board of Directors during its meeting on Dec. 4, the OPA Communications Committee at its Dec. 19 session revisited discussions of creating a protocol tutorial for new advisory committee chairs or members. Jenny Cropper Rines,… Read more »
(Jan. 2, 2020) Bolstered by unexpected donations from American Legion Boggs Disharoon Auxiliary Unit #123 in Berlin, the Ocean Pines Aquatics Angel Tree program last week donated gifts so 10 children from four families would have wrapped presents tucked under the tree on Christmas morning. Operations Director Colby Phillips said the holiday charity endeavor, now… Read more »
Several projects still in works including installing metal panels and roofing By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) Construction continued at the replacement Showell Elementary School after the Worcester County Board of Education authorized a $2.5 million requisition during a meeting last month. Over the past month, crews have installed wood blocking for the roof,… Read more »
(Jan. 2, 2020) With the new year underway, organizers with the Ocean Pines Community Gardens are now soliciting reservations for plots during 2020. Co-organizer Tracy Jones said a small waiting list has formed, while past participants are contacted to confirm continued involvement with the garden area in the Manklin Meadows complex next to the playground…. Read more »
Restoring wastewater fund, building community center also make list for 2020 By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) Finances, infrastructure and policy goals are top priorities that Berlin’s elected officials hope to tackle this year. “First and foremost to get the finances in order. That’s absolutely priority one,” said Councilman Troy Purnell. Despite a tumultuous… Read more »
Amenity-focused advisory group has number of ideas for yacht and beach clubs By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) With another year just beginning, Ocean Pines Association Clubs Committee Chairman Gary Miller outlined a number of objectives the group plans to tackle during 2020. Miller said the clubs committee, which focuses on association amenities,… Read more »
(Jan. 2, 2020) OPA Environmental & Natural Assets Committee Chairman Ken Wolf, freshly reinstated to the post in October, hopes to focus the group work this year on establishing achievable benchmarks for long-standing goals. “The real concern that I had is that we were trying to do a lot of good things and we weren’t… Read more »
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The Berlin Fire Company opened another station this year so it could provide better service to people in its fire service area, which extends far out of town. The new station is on a two-acre piece of property on Ocean Gateway, about a mile outside town. It was… Read more »
(Dec. 26, 2019) After raising community ire in January by proposing increasing annual assessment fees more than $100, Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Bailey was replaced by OPA Treasurer John Viola, who, beginning in March, quelled fiscal concerns sufficiently to warrant a contract extension to December. The dissension with Bailey was on display during… Read more »